Republicans Outraged by Martha Dean's Sandy Hook Post on Facebook

Dean ran as the GOP candidate for Attorney General in 2010.

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Martha Dean unsuccessfully ran as the Republican candidate for Attorney General in Connecticut in 2010.

Updated at 12:44 PM EDT on Friday, Jan 18, 2013

Republican leaders in Connecticut are outraged at former GOP Attorney General candidate Martha Dean for posting a link on her Facebook page to a video that promotes conspiracy theories about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Senate Republican Leader Larry Cafero and House Republican Leader John McKinney released a statement Thursday denouncing Dean and calling the conspiracy theories "vile."

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"The victims and families of Newtown and Connecticut as a whole have been devastated by this horrible tragedy, many of whom may never recover," Cafero said. "We do not need to hear these vile conspiracy claims."

The video claims the mass shooting on Dec. 14 may have been orchestrated by government officials and that it was staged by actors.

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Cafero and McKinney called on Dean to remove the video from her Facebook page.

"The information put out by so-called "Newtown Truthers" and other conspiracy theorists is disgusting and despicable," McKinney said. "Their conduct and actions are not only an insult to our intelligence, but also hurtful to the people of Newtown and disrespectful to the families of the victims and the memories of their children. Reposting, or in any way furthering the legitimacy of these groups, is grossly irresponsible and equally wrong. Anyone who engages in such behavior owes the families of the victims and the people of Newtown an apology," he said.

Dean, who ran for the office of Connecticut Attorney General in 2010, advocated for gun training for children in schools, scout groups and at summer camps. She lost the election to Democrat George Jepsen.

The Facebook post was first reported by blogger Kevin Rennie, who called on Republican leaders to denounce Dean.